The Royal College of Surgeons of England
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE FDS RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
These guidelines relate to the Faculty of Dental Surgery Research Fellowship and to the Joint
FDS – Wellcome Trust Research Fellowship.
NOTE: Applicants for the Joint FDS – Wellcome Trust Research Fellowship should also read the enclosed
Wellcome Trust Grant Conditions and the Wellcome Trust Data Protection Statement. Submission of an
application will be taken to imply acceptance of these Regulations.
1.
INTRODUCTION
Shortlisted Applicants for Fellowships are normally interviewed in April each year. Applicants
for the Joint FDS - Wellcome Fellowship who are successful at the first interview will proceed to
a second competitive interview at the Wellcome Trust - usually in June.
Applicants who wish to be considered for both fellowships and who are successful at the first
interview, may then proceed to the second interview at the Wellcome Trust. If they are not
successful at the second interview, they may then be offered the FDS Dental research
Fellowship.
The Application forms Part A-C for both Fellowships are the same – please complete all
sections.
Application form, Part D (Financial Support and Costing) is different for each Fellowship –
please ensure you complete the correct form If you are applying for both fellowships you must
complete two Forms Part D
The successful applicants will be asked to complete a form indicating their acceptance of
the award and their start and completion date within one month of receipt of the offer
letter.
(i)
Period of Support
FDS Fellowships will normally be held for one year, but up to two years may be available, with the
start date being within 12 months of the date of award.
Joint FDS-Wellcome Fellowships may be held for a period up to 3 years.
Whenever possible, the Fellowship period should be held during leave of absence from a
recognised basic or higher training scheme, so that the applicant has a known position to which to
return afterwards. Fellowships are not renewable.
2.
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
(i)
Financial Provision
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The FDS Fellowship provides a salary for the Research Fellow, by means of a fixed-term contract
of employment arranged with the host centre. The College will honour any increments and pay
awards made during the period of the Fellowship. Up to £10,000 will also be available to cover
consumables costs and expenses of the project. Costs must be fully justified, but will not normally
cover expenses for conference attendance and associated travel or for IT equipment, unless such
costs are directly related to, and essential for the conduct of the research project.
Failure to complete Part D of the application form will result in your application not being
considered.
Joint FDS-Wellcome Fellowships offer additional financial support and resources,. The should be
requested on the Joint FDS-Wellcome Fellowship Application Form D. Terms and Conditions for
this fellowship are determined by the Wellcome Trust (http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Aboutus/Policy/Policy-and-position-statements/index.htm)
(ii)
Salaries
Salaries are assessed in accordance with the standard practice of the host centre: they are
normally within the NHS salary scale. They will not exceed the maximum of these scales. For
Fellows on NHS scales it should be assumed that NHS procedures regarding grading and
assimilation will be followed, the scale points are merely being used to give annual increments on
a date in line with the Fellow's previous appointment or the starting date of the award. London
allowance is payable where applicable. The host centre should be responsible for sending
invoices quarterly in arrears.
(iii)
Claims for Reimbursement
Claims for reimbursement of salary should be made quarterly in arrears and should be certificated
by the finance officer (or other appropriate official) of the centre, and should be sent to the
Finance Department of the College. This should be submitted without delay after the end of the
period covered by the claim.
(iv)
Alternative Funding
Details of funding in connection with the project, from other external bodies either prior to or
subsequent to the College award must be stated in writing to the Faculty of Dental Surgery not
later than six weeks of its being known.
3.
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
(i)
Conditions for Application
Applications and Research Fellowship awards are made on the understanding that the host
centre, the supervisor and the applicant agree to accept the regulations and conditions relating to
the scheme and any amendments issued during the course of the award.
(ii)
Contractual Status of Fellows
An award under these regulations will normally be administered through a fixed-term contract of
employment between the Fellow and the host centre, for the period of the award. The
emoluments provided under the Fellowship are chargeable to income tax under Schedule E
(PAYE) and Class 1 National Insurance contributions will be payable in accordance with the
Social Security Act 1973.
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Where Fellows are to be admitted to the superannuation scheme appropriate to employees of the
host centre, the full cost to the employer of superannuation provision will be reimbursed by the
College. The College accepts no responsibility for claims under the Employment Protection
(Consolidation) Act 1978 and/or any subsequent employment legislation, nor will it indemnify the
host centre against claims for compensation or against other claims for which the centre may be
liable as an employer.
(iii)
Other awards and Emoluments
Fellowships are awarded for full-time training and the College’s approval must be sought before
any other work is carried out within normal working hours. It will generally be necessary to make a
reduction in salary corresponding to any additional income so derived. Fellows MUST notify the
College of any earnings from such work and of any honoraria or awards received. This does not
apply to remuneration received from up to six hours a week, spent on teaching, NHS clinical
sessions or demonstrating, on agreement with the supervisor. Payment from these may be
retained in full if this is in accordance with the host centre's conditions.
(iv)
Private Practice
It will be a condition of any award that Research Fellows do not engage in private practice for
personal gain.
(v)
Holidays
Fellows must take holidays in accordance with the conditions of service of the host centre up to a
maximum of six weeks during a complete year. The date and duration of any holiday proposed
beyond this period should be reported to the College.
(vi)
Sick Leave and Maternity Cover
Fellows will be subject to the normal conditions of service of the host centre so far as sick leave is
concerned, but the Faculty of Dental Surgery should be notified if a Fellow is likely to be away
through illness for more than a month. Fellows will be subject to the normal conditions of service
of the host centre for maternity cover. The College should be notified in writing if maternity leave
is required. At its discretion, the College may agree to extend the research period by six months
but will make no supplementary financial payments over and above that originally agreed.
(vii)
Honorary Clinical Contracts
Fellows who undertake, as part of their research programme, work concerned with the care of
patients are reminded that they should be in possession of an honorary clinical contract from the
appropriate health authority. Responsibility for seeking such a contract will lie with the head of the
department in which the Fellow is working. Should any difficulties be encountered, the College
should be informed.
(viii)
Medical Defence Cover
It is the responsibility of each Fellow to ensure that s/he holds adequate cover with a professional
defence organisation for any activities undertaken which are not covered by NHS indemnity
arrangements or by an additional provision which may be made by the host centre. The cost of
any such cover will not be met by the College.
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4.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
(i)
Change of Project or Supervisor
Any changes in a Fellow's training programme or supervisor from those originally approved by the
College will require the College's prior consent.
(ii)
Interim, and Final Report and Subsequent Post
Fellows are required to submit a report on a form which will be supplied at six month’s and one
year of their period of research on the work undertaken and to inform the College of the
appointment s/he proposes to undertake on the conclusion of the award. Fellows are also
required to fill in the Evaluation Questionnaire which will normally be sent to them within six
months of the completion of their research period. Fellows are encouraged to take this opportunity
of putting forward any comments they may have on the scheme
(iii)
Publications
The preliminary findings and results of a Fellow's work may be published in the usual way at the
discretion of the supervisor or head of department. The College must be acknowledged as the
source of funds in any publication dealing with the work carried out during the tenure of a
Fellowship. Publications and papers should be forwarded to the Faculty of Dental Surgery.
All Research Fellows will be required to submit a short report for the Faculty Dental Journal (FDJ)
upon completion of their Fellowship. Fellows should also be prepared to submit short reports for
the RCS annual report and may also be requested to attend fund raising or promotional events.
(iv)
Presentations
From time to time the Research Fellow may be requested to make presentations on behalf of
the College at fund raising and open evenings. Such a request should not be unreasonably
refused. The Research Fellow may make a claim for expenses to the Faculty of Dental Surgery
on the appropriate claim form.
(v)
Commercial Exploitation
The College is concerned to promote the transfer of research discoveries, ideas and techniques
to industry and to those who deliver health care. Supervisors should therefore keep under
continuous review the question of whether the work has potential industrial application, taking
appropriate action in accordance with the protection and exploitation of research findings.
Supervisors are reminded that any form of ‘disclosure’ whether in journals or at learned society
meetings, may prejudice subsequent filing of a patent application. If a Fellow has a successful
outcome to any patent application, based on College funded work, the College wishes its
contribution to be acknowledged.
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